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Used Tear Gas Canisters Become a Living Garden in Poignant West Bank Shrine

In the Palestinian village of Bilin, residents have taken used tear gas grenades and transformed them into plant pots to create a garden. The garden was created as a tribute to honor a man who died during a protest against the West Bank separation barrier. In this gallery of photos taken by Palestinian photographer Majdi Muhammed, the unusual garden becomes a symbol of life defying tragedy.

Bilin has become a central focus of Palestinian protests against Israeli policies in the West Bank, and was the subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary “Five Broken Cameras”. The daily conflicts are ongoing as Palestinians say they struggle to regain land that is cut-off by the barrier; Israel says the wall is needed to keep potential Palestinian attackers out.

The images were published by Associated Press with the following text: “The Bilin garden commemorates Bassem Abu Rahmah, a protest leader who was killed in 2009 when a tear gas grenade struck him in the chest during a demonstration.” The garden certainly has a politically motivated message, but the green space has also become a symbol of the ongoing battles. The living shrine is watered by Abu Rahmah’s mother, Sabiha Abu Rahmah.

One thought on “Used Tear Gas Canisters Become a Living Garden in Poignant West Bank Shrine”

How painfully poignant. Anything that awakens the wider world to the plight of the Palestinians is to be applauded.

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Slideshow

Used Tear Gas Canisters Become a Living Garden in Poignant West Bank Shrine

In the Palestinian village of Bilin, residents have taken used tear gas grenades and transformed them into plant pots to create a garden. The garden was created as a tribute to honor a man who died during a protest against the West Bank separation barrier. In this gallery of photos taken by Palestinian photographer Majdi Muhammed, the unusual garden becomes a symbol of life defying tragedy.

West Bank Garden of Tear Gas Grenades by Majdi Mohammed

1 of 7

In the Palestinian village of Bilin, residents have taken used tear gas grenades and transformed them into plant pots to create a garden. The garden was created as a tribute to honor a man who died during a protest against the West Bank separation barrier. In this gallery of photos taken by Palestinian photographer Majdi Muhammed, the unusual garden becomes a symbol of life defying tragedy.

The garden reuses the canisters to create a living memorial.

West Bank Garden of Tear Gas Grenades by Majdi Mohammed

2 of 7

The garden reuses the canisters to create a living memorial.

Over the years Bilin has become a central focus of Palestinian protests against Israeli policies in the West Bank.

West Bank Garden of Tear Gas Grenades by Majdi Mohammed

3 of 7

Over the years Bilin has become a central focus of Palestinian protests against Israeli policies in the West Bank.

In last year’s Oscar nominated documentary, "Five Broken Cameras," the village was the subject.

West Bank Garden of Tear Gas Grenades by Majdi Mohammed

4 of 7

In last year’s Oscar nominated documentary, "Five Broken Cameras," the village was the subject.

Palestinians say they struggle to regain land that is cut-off by the barrier.

West Bank Garden of Tear Gas Grenades by Majdi Mohammed

5 of 7

Palestinians say they struggle to regain land that is cut-off by the barrier.